KPU seed lab puts Garden City Lands farm on leading edge

The new farm infrastructure and seed lab for the Kwantlen Polytechnic University research and teaching farm on the Garden City Lands are very consistent with the Richmond citizens’ vision that kept the lands in the ALR. A million-dollar investment is funded about one-third by the organic seed industry and two-thirds by the provincial government. As well, the federal government is matching the provincial funding (bringing the total to about $1.68 million).

Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham was on the Garden City Lands recently to see for herself. In the above photo, Ms. Popham (centre) is discussing corn with Sustainable Agriculture students. The seed lab and classrooms are about a hundred metres away at Kwantlen’s Richmond campus. Below, Dr. Rebecca Harbut of the Sustainable Agriculture faculty is showing Minister Popham the seed lab. It will make the KPU program a leader in the struggle to save food seeds for farmers—and from domination by giant seed companies.

Here is the KPU news release about the seed lab.